The Anaheim Ducks recently made a rather shocking trade, acquiring Cutter Gauthier from the Philadelphia Flyers. In that trade, defenseman Jamie Drysdale went the other way. Drysdale shared a unique relationship with Anaheim forward Trevor Zegras over the last few years. So, perhaps it isn't entirely surprising that Zegras found his name in the rumor mill soon after the deal.
However, a Zegras trade makes sense for the Ducks beyond anything with Drysdale. The team now has a rather loaded group of high-potential top-six forwards of the future. Gauthier joins Zegras, Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Frank Vatrano, and Troy Terry as part of Anaheim's forward core.
At face value, Anaheim doesn't necessarily need to trade Zegras. However, the 22-year-old has struggled this season with injury. When healthy, he hasn't exactly set the world on fire, either. Furthermore, Zegras didn't make a ton of progress from his first full season to his second.
General manager Pat Verbeek may take a similar attitude to the Flyers when it comes to Zegras. Philadelphia felt the value for Gauthier wasn't going to get any higher. As a result, they traded him. Verbeek may take that stance with his 22-year-old forward.
Zegras is hurt as of this writing, making a midseason trade a bit unlikely. However, a trade appears to be coming at some point. And with that in mind, here are the best landing spots for Trevor Zegras as trade speculation begins to kick into gear.
San Jose Sharks could be an interesting fit
The Ducks likely wouldn't want to send Zegras to an intra-state rival. However, it's hard to deny that the Sharks are an interesting fit for the 22-year-old. In San Jose, Zegras would be given the chance to be the star of his own team. And with his marketable personality, he could help draw fans back to the SAP Center.
The Sharks have a promising group of forwards for the future. That said, most of them haven't made a major impact at the NHL level. Some haven't made the league yet to begin with. San Jose is led by Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture, aging veterans who are entering the latter half of their careers.
Zegras can come in and immediately play in the team's top six. His playmaking abilities can help elevate those around him. And he can help the players the team has waiting to make their mark at the next level. A trade between the Sharks and Ducks seems complicated, but it could be a good move for Trevor Zegras.
Chicago Blackhawks could pair Trevor Zegras with Connor Bedard
The Blackhawks acquired some veteran pieces to put around Connor Bedard this year. And to an extent, it worked. While one move didn't exactly pan out, Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson have played extremely well. Now imagine if this offseason saw Chicago go after another young, NHL-ready star to pair with Bedard.
Chicago already has young talent around Bedard, to be fair. Lukas Reichel, Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, and Philipp Kurashev have made an impact in the league this season. However, none of them have reached the level Zegras has in the past.
Acquiring Trevor Zegras gives Chicago added center depth. And it allows the Blackhawks to lighten the offensive load on their star 18-year-old rookie as he navigates the early years of his career. Finally, it allows Zegras a chance to find his game once again while playing for a team that's soon to be on the rise.
Washington Capitals could give him a chance at playoff hockey
The Capitals are in an interesting position this year. As of this writing, Washington is just two points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top wild card spot in the East. They are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race despite having a lackluster offense. Trevor Zegras could certainly help their offensive woes.
The Capitals are led offensively by Alex Ovechkin. However, he has just 27 points through 39 games. Furthermore, the future Hall of Famer has just eight goals this year. To say Washington has issues scoring this year would be one of the biggest understatements of the season.
Trevor Zegras has struggled in his own way offensively when healthy. That said, the 22-year-old could certainly bounce back in a big way on a team competing for the playoffs. And he would give Washington a potential top-line center of the future if things work out as hoped. It may cost Washington, but acquiring Zegras would aid them in the short and long term as they aim to return to the playoffs.
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